Vaccination status set to be part of 'Covid Certification'

Monday 19 April 2021

People's vaccination status will be one part of a 'Covid Certification' system being drawn up to enhance travel opportunities this summer.

Those who are already vaccinated are able to apply for a written certification from the States if their travel plans require evidence of having been vaccinated against Covid-19.

This is an interim measures while an app is developed that will aim to streamline the process. States Chief Executive Paul Whitfield's team has fielded questions about why this is not yet ready to go. 

"We are working very closely with the UK and the UK themselves haven’t decided what the Covid certification looks like," he said.

"Also, we want to talk with friends and colleagues in the Isle of Man and Jersey, because if the Crown Dependencies can have something that is very similar then surely that is going to assist us when moving across borders."

Pictured: Mr Whitfield indicated the Covid Certification will use an app rather than paper forms completed by hand. 

While vaccination status will inevitably be a part of that, Public Health Director Dr Nicola Brink said it will not be the exclusive consideration. 

"I would see vaccination status being part of a Covid Certification," said Dr Brink. "People are going to require different things, they are going to be people who have had past infection, people who cannot be vaccinated for whatever reason may require negative status [test], and that can be pooled together in a Covid certification.

"So I can absolutely see vaccine status being something that can enhance travel in the future."

It has once again raised questions about inequality of travel opportunity for younger people, who fall at the end of the vaccination process. 

Pictured: As vaccination levels increase around the world, Dr Brink said that testing rates will likely go down and calculating prevalence on the number of cases per 100,000 will become a less reliable indicator.

"It can’t be entirely fair because of circumstances," Deputy Peter Ferbrache admitted. "Older people had to be vaccinated first because they are most at risk.

"Will it meet the test of fairness? It will be as fair as it possibly can be. There will probably be some Professor at some university who will say it doesn’t meet this sociological whatsit, but we’ve got to live in the real world."